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Women's Tour: Mark Cavendish champions female bike racing

Colchester Borough Council Women's Tour in ColchesterColchester Borough Council
The 59-mile (95km) route started in Colchester and ended in Clacton-on-Sea

British cyclist Mark Cavendish made a special appearance at the end of the Women's Tour in Essex to speak out in support of women's racing.

The Tour de France green jersey winner was seen with his son cheering on the riders as they crossed the finish line in Clacton-on-Sea.

The peloton of leading female cyclists from around the world had started the 59-mile (95km) route in Colchester.

Cavendish said the women were "leaving a legacy" for future female riders.

The 76 competitors, including Great Britain's Lizzie Deignan and the new world champion Elisa Balsamo from Italy, set off from Colchester's Northern Gateway sports park.

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They then headed through Colchester town centre before riding towards Great Bromley and completing a lap and a half of a circuit that took in Thorrington, Jaywick, Holland-on-Sea, Mistley and Manningtree.

The cyclists rode through Clacton twice, the second time finishing the day's racing with the decisive sprint on Marine Parade, won by Thursday's winner Lorena Wiebes.

The Dutch rider became the second rider in Women's Tour history to win back-to-stages.

Tendring Council Women's Tour in ClactonTendring Council
The peloton of leading female riders from around the world went through Clacton twice

Before the riders came hurtling along finishing straight, Cavendish told those waiting it "breaks my heart" that his daughter Delilah "might not have the same opportunities just because she was born a female".

He said his son Casper, whom he was with, "doesn't care who is racing, he wants to watch a bike race".

Tom Williams/BBC Lorena WiebesTom Williams/BBC
Lorena Wiebes became the second rider in Women's Tour history to win back-to-stages
PA Media Mark CavendishPA Media
Sprinter Mark Cavendish, who won the green jersey at the Tour de France, was at the finish of the Women's Tour in Clacton

The Manxman, who won four stages at this year's Tour de France, said: "The girls, the ladies who are racing now probably most of them won't see the benefits of what they are doing to improve female cycling but the biggest thing they can take is the legacy they'll leave for my daughter and girls in the future."

The sixth and final stage will be held in Suffolk on Saturday, starting in Haverhill and finishing in Felixstowe.

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